The impact of socioeconomic status upon specialist consultation, treatment, and outcomes for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

4077 Background: Quality outcome metrics for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) have been described. However, the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on quality outcome metrics for PC needs further elucidation. Methods: Linked SEER-Medicare databases 1991-2005 were queried for patients (pts) with PC. Pts with locoregional, nonmetastatic disease were identified and stratified into SES quintiles based hierarchically upon census tract, zip code median income, and per capita income data; these were then dichotomized into “low SES” and “high SES,” with the lowest quintile (mean income = $23,254.03, ≈2x U.S. mean poverty threshold) defining “low SES.” Univariate and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses characterized associations between SES group, patient characteristics, and therapy. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess SES as a predictor of specialist consultation (surgeon, medical or radiation oncologist) and receipt of therapy (resection, chemotherapy, radiation) after adjusting for age, gender, race, m...